ITIC warning to marine surveyors following US$30,000 off-spec grain cargo dispute

ITIC warning to marine surveyors following US$30,000 off-spec grain cargo dispute
ITIC warning to marine surveyors following US$30,000 off-spec grain cargo dispute

A US$30,000 off-spec grain cargo dispute claim directed at the wrong surveyor has prompted International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) to warn marine surveyors of the liability exposure they face when the scope of their instructions is not precisely recorded.

A marine surveyor was appointed by the seller of a grain cargo to conduct a joint survey at the load port. The buyer accepted the cargo and subsequently sold it on. At the discharge port, the ultimate buyer and consignee alleged the grain was off-spec due to the presence of ambrosia seed and other impurities. Continue reading “ITIC warning to marine surveyors following US$30,000 off-spec grain cargo dispute”

Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit

Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit
Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit

The future of engine retrofits will depend heavily on regulatory developments says Lloyd’s Register in its latest Engine Retrofit Report.

LR added the longer conventionally fuelled vessels remain in service, the greater the pressure will be to retrofit them later to meet emissions targets, potentially compressing demand into a narrower and more costly timeframe.

The 2026 update shows that 2025 delivered limited growth in announced retrofit projects, but significant progress in capability. Continue reading “Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit”

What caught my eye: May 2026

Sauna culture comes to the Connecticut coast

This is not the first time that floating sauna stories have come to my attention, so clearly, you can see I am fascinated by this concept. It is just, well, so whacky!

As we all know, sauna bathing is a centuries-old tradition in Scandinavia that’s closely tied to the outdoor lifestyle. Peter Boldt, an architectural designer based in Cos Cob, Connecticut, was first introduced to sauna culture when he lived in Sweden. Years later, during the pandemic, Boldt and his wife were looking for a project Continue reading “What caught my eye: May 2026”

Britannia P&I Club guidance on transporting cement

Correct way of hooking FIPC bags. Source: Britannia P&I Club
Correct way of hooking FIPC bags. Source: Britannia P&I Club

The volume of seaborne cement traded continues to grow, with the most recent annual figure estimated to be over 145 million tonnes.

Cement is carried on board ships either in bulk or in bags. And Britannia P&I Club’s loss prevention team has provided guidance on the carriage of cement.

Bulk cement

Risk factors of loading cement in bulk include solidification of the cargo due to water ingress, mainly through hatch covers or the Continue reading “Britannia P&I Club guidance on transporting cement”

Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries

Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries
Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries

The Norwegian Maritime Authority has sent out a warning following a significant increase in the marketing, sale and installation of counterfeit batteries for Jotron GMDSS products in recent years.

Affected products include Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), radar and AIS-SART devices, as well as handheld GMDSS emergency VHF radios. Continue reading “Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries”

DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment
DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

Fire incidents on ships rank among the most frequent accidents, and in recent years, fire incidents have specially increased among container and ro-ro cargo/passenger ships.

And DNV has supported many cases of post-fire structural and material assessments.

The incidents have ranged from isolated small-scale fires in cargo holds to major fires damaging the complete ship. Continue reading “DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment”

IACS publishes recommendation for onboard lifting appliances

IACS publishes recommendation for onboard lifting appliances
IACS publishes recommendation for onboard lifting appliances

IACS, the membership organisation for the world’s leading classification societies, has published a recommendation to improve safety standards for lifting appliances, in line with SOLAS regulations covering both new and existing lifting appliances.

Lifting appliances play a vital role in cargo handling and ship operations, yet their limited structural redundancy has long posed safety risks for crews and vessels. To address these hazards, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Continue reading “IACS publishes recommendation for onboard lifting appliances”

O-ring failure caused $5.5M engine room fire on bulk carrier, says NTSB

Left photo is of lower module of the oil fittings block showing overlap between the lower and upper module fuel ports. Right photo is the upper module of oil fittings block and fuel flow meter showing the pinched O-ring as indicated.
Source: Lemissoler Shipmanagement

A failed O-ring seal on a bulk carrier’s composite boiler unit led caused a fire costing more than $5 million dollars in damage, said an investigation report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

On January 4, 2025, at about 2323, bulk cargo vessel Lem Verbena was docked at the Alabama State Docks on the Mobile River in Mobile, Alabama, with 19 crewmembers on board when a fire started in the engine room. Continue reading “O-ring failure caused $5.5M engine room fire on bulk carrier, says NTSB”

Brookes Bell on engineering analysis when the answer isn’t clear

Brookes Bell on engineering analysis when the answer isn’t clear
Brookes Bell on engineering analysis when the answer isn’t clear

Engineering claims rarely begin with a complete picture, says Brookes Bell. More often, they start with partial evidence, damaged components, and an initial explanation of what may have gone wrong. In practice, those early assumptions are not always reliable.

For Andrew Kingshott, recognising and managing this uncertainty is a fundamental part of the investigation process. Continue reading “Brookes Bell on engineering analysis when the answer isn’t clear”

CHIRP Annual Digest 2025-2026 published

The CHIRP Annual Digest 2025-2026 is based on over 300 reports received
The CHIRP Annual Digest 2025-2026 is based on over 300 reports received

CHIRP Annual Digest 2025-2026 reveals that the organisation received 330 reports concerning safety, welfare, and compliance issues across all sectors, including commercial shipping, superyachts, fishing, pilotage, offshore installations, ports, search and rescue units, recreational vessels, and the “shadow fleet”.

Whilst praising those who had contributed, Adam Parnell, CHIRP’s Director Maritime said, “Speaking up is not always easy, but your reports have prevented harm, corrected unsafe practices and improved working conditions for many others.” Continue reading “CHIRP Annual Digest 2025-2026 published”

Best practices to avoid complications of mass flow meters

Best practices to avoid complications of mass flow meters
Best practices to avoid complications of mass flow meters

NorthStandard P&I Club has provided essential information about the potential vulnerabilities and limitations of mass flow meters (MFMs) in bunkering operations, providing key tips for operators to avoid any complications.

As explained by Alvin Forster, Senior Loss Prevention Executive – Americas & UK, NorthStandard, although mass flow meters are designed to improve accuracy and reduce disputes, they are not immune to manipulation. Documented cases in Singapore showed the use of strong magnets placed on sensors to distort readings, resulting in inflated recorded deliveries and significant financial fraud. Continue reading “Best practices to avoid complications of mass flow meters”

Ensure the SMS adequately addresses electrical hazards

Ensure the SMS adequately addresses electrical hazards
Ensure the SMS adequately addresses electrical hazards

The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a circular to reinforce mandatory safety requirements and operational controls related to electrical hazards onboard vessels, with particular emphasis on the use, handling, relocation, and isolation of portable electrical equipment.

A number of very serious marine casualties involving fatal electrocution demonstrate that routine shipboard activities can present significant electrical risks when energized equipment is handled without adequate isolation, inspection, Continue reading “Ensure the SMS adequately addresses electrical hazards”

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